Snap action thermostat



June 4,1935. I

E. w. MQKINLEY l SNAP ACTION THERMOSTAT Filed June '7, 1933 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to thermostatic apparatus, more particularlyl to such devices employed in connection with water heaters or the like.

Considerable trouble has been experienced with devices of this character now generally in use for the reason' that a long period is required between expansion and contraction of the heat responsive element to actuate the control valve, particularly so if a large volume of water is withdrawn from the tank at one time. VAlso the valves of such devices tend to open or close slowly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermostatic device of the character referred to so constructed that the temperature of the water in the heater tank may be maintained at a substantially constant temperature, or the temperature quickly restored after a portion has been Withdrawn.

Another object is to provide a thermostatic device of the expansion tube and lever type so constructed that a quick or snap action will be imparted to the control Valve associated therewith. Y

A further object is to providev a thermostat in which the control valve may be adjusted according to the gas pressure supplied to the burner.

A still further object is to Vprovide a thermostat so constructed that the temperature of the water in the tank to which the device is connected may be controlled or regulated without disassembling any part of the device.

Further objects and advantages will' be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a water heater showing the application of the improved thermostat applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through theV water heater.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the thermostat (removed from the heater) taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken through the expansion tube or heat responsive elementv and `valve actuating levers showing the'Y connection' between the two levers as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Y

Fig. 6 is an enlarged verticalsection taken through the inlet valve and adjusting means associated therewith..V s'

' Fig; 7 is a fragmentary section taken through the body of the device showing the valve open or unseated.V

' Referring more specifically to the drawing, I0 designates a conventional constant heat type water heater comprising a tank fuel burner l2 and central tube or vent pipe I3.

The improved thermostat generally designated at lli consists of ahollow body member l5 having an externally threaded tubular extension I6 for connection with a threaded nipple or flange I1 secured to the side Wall of tank ||.V

Formed on the body I5 is an internallyy threaded inlet |8 to which is connected a valve or plug |53 and a vertically disposed outlet 20 from which extends a pipe 2| leading to the burner- |2. interposed in pipe 2| isa fitting 22 that .carries a pilot light burner 23 suppliedrwith fuel through a pipe 2li leading to the body of plugi9 and a thermostat element 25 which operates aA valve (not shown) that in turn automatically cuts off the pilot name in the event that it should become extinguished. The latterv device however, forms no part of the present invention, hence may be omitted if desired.

Extending into extension I6 and screw threaded into the body is a tubular thermostat element 28 that is closed at its outer end by a cap or the like 29, said element being formed of copper or other material having a high coefficient of expansion.Y

Arranged within the element 28 is an elongated bar 30 and a quadrant or bell crank lever 3|, each of which is formed of substantially non-expandingniaterial such as steel.

Secured to bar 30 adjacent its outer end is a` circular member 32 (see Fig. 5) that serves to support the same within'the' tube 28, and formed on the end of said bar is a tongue 33 which engages a curved recess 34 formed in the short arm 35 of lever 3| adjacent the vertex of its arms. The lower end of lever arm 35 is fulcrumed on the inner wall of a closure cap 29 while the opposite end of bar 3| extends through and is engaged by a screw 36 threaded in the body 5.

It will be apparent that slight contraction of the tube will impart considerable movement to the lever, also that the long arm of the lever will flex or slightly bend when subjected to strain., Secured to the shank of screw 36is a handle or the like 38 having a pointer on its outer lendl that registers with a graduated scale 39formedV on the body, byv which the temperature ofltlfie Water vin the heater tankmay be regulated at will in a manner hereinafter described.

Screw threaded or otherwise mounted in the upper portion of the body is a seat 40 for a disc valve 4! that is actuated by the lever through expansion and contraction of the thermostat element to admit and cut oi the supply of fuel to the burner.

Formed on the face of valve 4I is an annular lug or head 42 that extends into a recess 43 formed in a closure plug 43 threaded in the upper end of the body, said lug serving as guide for the valve during its movement.

kSecured to or formed integral with valve 4i and depending therefrom is a tubular stem 44 (see Fig. 6) upon which is secured a cap 45 having a seat for a ball or the like 46 that is normally held seated by an expansion coil spring 48.

Threaded in lug 42 and extending downwardly through the stein is a screw 5U that serves to limit upward movement of the ball, the ball and spring being provided to impart a snap action to the valve, also to reduce the interval between opening and closing of the same, particularly under conditions when low pressure gas is supplied. Y

vIn assembling the parts above described, the screw 36 is turned (with a screw driver or the like) until it engages the end of the bar 3B when tube 28 is cold or contracted. The handle 38 is then applied with the pointer in register with the uppermost or zero markY of the scale 39 and is secured to the screw shank by a set screw or the like 39. l

The handle is then adapted to be turned downwardly, the action oi which raises the end of the lever through the bar 30 and unseats the valve 4I.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the valve 4l is held unseated yor open when the water in the tank is cold or falls below a given point, and will be seated when the temperature rises, the degree of heat being governed by ad justing screw 38, i. e. when a relatively high temperature, for example degrees, is desired, the pointer is turned downwardly, whereas by turning the pointer in the opposite direction the temperature mayV ber reduced, or to such a degree that thecontraction of the tube will not act upon the lever to unseat the valve.

Operation: Assuming that the water in the tank is cold, or equal to the surrounding atmosphere (say about 60 deg. F.), the pointer 38 adjusted for moderately hot water, and screw 50 turned into engagement with ball 4B for high pressure gas.

Valve 4I will then be unseated due to contraction of tube 28, as shown in Fig. '1, allowing uelto pass through the body l5 and pipe 2l to the burner I2, resulting in raising the temperature of the water, whereupon tube 28 will expand, While the valve will simultaneously descend toward its seat by gravity.

As the temperature of the water increases or reaches the predetermined heat, the valve will have approached the limit of its downward movement or be nearly seated. At this point the flow of fuel between the valve and seat will bek restricted, which in turn results in developing gas pressure in the Vspace above said valve, and as the pressure increases it will overcome the resistance offered by the long arm of lever 3l, resulting in a quick or sudden closing of the valve.

Tube 28 may now continue to expand until it is no longer affected by the temperature of the water, at which point the lever will have moved out of contact with the ball.

Valve li will now remain seated until the water cools ofi by radiation or the temperature is reduced by withdrawal of the water for consumption, whereupon the tube begins to contract or return to normal, resulting in raising of lever 3|.

Lever 3i now continues to move until it contacts with ball 46, resulting in flexing of its long arm against the gas pressure exerted on the valve, whereupon said valve will be suddenly opened by reaction of the lever. The tube may then continue to contract, or until the temperature of the water again becomes sufiiciently heated to cause it to expand and again seat the valve as above described.

As previously referred to, the spring 48 serves to unseat the valve under conditions when relatively low pressure gas is supplied, for example when the pressure is low the screw is turned away' from the ball, whereas if the pressure is high it is moved towards or into engagement with it.

Under such conditions the operation is the same as above described, except during contrac-A tion of the tube and subsequent raising of the lever, the ball 46 will be raised, thereby (compressing spring 43) until it contacts with screw 5U.

Continued upward movement of the lever will then unseat the valve, whereupon it will be suddenly opened by spring 48, whereas during expansion of the tube the valve will be seated (against the resistance of said spring) by the gas pressure exerted thereon.

Thus it will be apparent that by adjusting screw 5t the time required to seat and unseat the valve may be reduced to a minimum, thereby resulting in short range or time period required to restore the temperature of the water after a portion has been withdrawn from the tank.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the thermostat is of simple construction, may be easily and quickly adjusted according to various degrees of gas pressure, and that a quick or snap action is imparted to the control valve.

I claim:

1. A thermostat of the class described comprising a hollow gas body having a valve seat therein, a valve arranged to engage the seat, a stem secured to said valve, a member slidably mounted in said stem and normally seated therein with a portion of it projecting therebelow, a spring under compression disposed in said stem and urging said member seated, a tubular heat responsive element closed at itsouter end secured to and communicating with the interior of the body at a point below the valve, valve actuating means including a bell crank lever disposed within said heat responsive element with the short arm engaging the closed end of the same and its long arm projecting into the body and extending underneath said valve stem, and means associated with said valve for regulating the movement of the member in its stem after it has been engaged by the long arm of said lever for the purpose set forth.

2. A thermostat of the class described comprising a hollow gas body having a valve seat therein, a valve arranged to engage the seat, a stem secured to said valve, a member slidably mounted in said stem and normally seated therein with a portion of it projecting therebelow,

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ably mounted in said stem and normally seated a spring under compression disposed in said stem and urging said member seated, a tubular heat responsive element closed at its outer end secured to and communicating with the interior of the body at a point below the valve, valve actuating means including a bell crank lever disposed within said heat responsive element with the short arm engaging the closed end of the same and its long arm projecting into the body and extending underneath said Valve stem, and a stop screw threaded in said Valve and extending into said' stem for regulating the movement of the member therein after it has been engaged by the long arm of said lever for the purpose set forth.

3. A thermostat of the class describedcomprising a hollow gas body having a valve seat therein, a valve arranged to engage the seat, a hollow stem secured to saidvvalve, a ball slidtherein with a portion of it projecting therebelow, a spring under compression disposed in said stem and urging said ball seated, a tubular heat responsive element closed at its outer end Secured to and communicating with the interior of the body at a point below the valve, valve actuating means including a bell crank lever disposed Within said heat responsive element with the short arm engaging the closed end of the same and its long arm projecting into the body and extending underneath Vsaid valve stem, and a stop screw threaded in said valve and extending into said stem for regulating the movement of the ball therein after it has been engaged by the long arm of said lever for the purpose set forth.

EDWIN W. MCKINLEY. 

